A Bite Out of Life: Tobacco Road Sports Cafe

First of all: five stars all the way.

When you think “sports cafe” what comes to mind is likely mediocre food, sticky floors, and men with oily fingers and wing sauce in their beards shouting obnoxiously with beer-coated breath at the huge flat screens above their heads. Tobacco Road Cafe in Durham, North Carolina, was packed with Duke University fans vocally expressing their excitement for the football game, as they should (because what would the athletes do without them?!) and it made for an animated atmosphere. The food here was knocked out of the park, the floors were spotless, and we scored great service.

What reeled us in was the inviting location. Tobacco Road is located across the street from the American Tobacco campus, which is a beautiful collection of restaurants, businesses, and artwork. We toured the campus while keeping an eye out for what would soon be lunch, and since Tobacco Road Sports Cafe has a backyard view of Durham Bulls Athletic Park and fairly-priced eats, in the doors we walked.

We were greeted by a friendly hostess who sat us in front of multiple huge flat screens with different sports games playing across them all. The largest screen was dedicated to Duke University’s Blue Devils as they took on Northwestern. There was even a level down under featuring multiple one-seated couches and additional TVs so that fans could root for their teams up close and personal. I thought that was super cool.

Once our waitress came by, she introduced herself and told us about how their burgers are natural and local. Tim was sold and went for the “Arrogant Burger” which included top-quality beef, pepper, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, onion rings, and Arrogant Bastard Ale mustard. I went for the hurricane tomato and avocado sandwich with bacon. Both were served with fries and were deliciously amazing.

But first, let me show you our appetizer. Warning: food porn.

This was a heavenly, crunchy, cheesy, beany beast who was topped with steak and love. It filled us up and we had to take the rest of the nachos home, along with our meals, pictured below.

We were pleasantly satisfied and looked forward to a walk around downtown Durham after. We strolled around and caught some live music, and then headed back, only to munch on our food about two hours later.

If you haven’t been to Tobacco Road Sports Cafe and live in or nearby the Triangle area, this place is a must. If you don’t live nearby, you should plan a visit. Not only to check out this spectacular food and pleasant environment, but because the entire Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area is amazing and inviting and you’d love it if you like fun, food, and being awesome.